5,000 lose jobs after Map Ta Phut ruling

Some 5,000 construction workers have been laid off after the Central Administrative Court ordered a halt to 76 industrial projects in Map Ta Phut and nearby areas in Rayong. They are among the first casualties of the judicial review of the government's industrial policy.

The Supreme Administrative Court yesterday accepted the government's appeal against the injunction on 76 investment projects worth Bt400 billion.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed to quickly pass organic laws for Article 67 of the Constitution to ease difficulties faced by some of the petrochemical, energy and steel projects suspended by the court.

Santi Vilassakdanont, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said Abhisit would raise the issue at the meeting with government units and the Office of the Attorney-General tomorrow.

He said the organic laws, if approved by the Cabinet, could be rushed to Parliament for approval early next year.

Prasert Boonsumphun, CEO of PTT, one of the biggest investors in Map Ta Phut, said the latest development had hurt not only PTT, Siam Cement Group and other Thai and foreign investors in the area, but also the country's international image as an investment hub.

Surong Bulakul, CEO of Thai Oil, said the damage was already being felt, such as the loss of 5,000 construction jobs in the area.

FTI's Santi said the Office of Attorney-Generalwould consider if the health impact assessment required under the Constitution could be included in the environmental impact assessment to make it easier for investors to comply with the law.

An independent environmental body also needs to be set up to validate the HIA and EIA.

"The private sector expects that once subsequent laws are enacted, investors will know if they have to complete only the EIA or both the EIA and HIA," Santi said.

Some suspended projects can proceed despite the injunction, but other schemes worth Bt180 billion cannot, as they have not yet finished their EIA.

FTI vice chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol said that to speed up the legal process under Article 67, Abhisit indicated that environmental laws might be reviewed.

The Cabinet will consider the matter next week and Abhisit hopes the amendments would be completed early next year.